Hull will commemorate Memorial Day on Monday

The town's observance of Memorial Day on Monday begins with a parade that steps off from Hull High School at 9:30 a.m. and proceeds to the Village Cemetery, where speeches and music will be staged. Those who wish to march should be at the high school at 9.

All are welcome to walk, or to line the parade route and cheer on participants. At 10 a.m., the ceremony begins at the Gold Star Mothers Memorial.

Afterwards, the town will commemorate two squares in memory of Hull residents who were World War II veterans. The first is at the corner of Main Street and Town Way, to honor Philip Hunt Sr. The second is for Anthony J. Alibrandi, at the corner of Alden Street and Manomet Avenue.

After those, at about noon, the front of the Municipal Building, 253 Atlantic Ave., will be dedicated to the memory of Janet Bennett, the town clerk who served Hull for more than 50 years. All are welcome to participate in or all of these observances.

Band Concert Cancelled. Due to the ongoing updates and construction at the Bernie King Pavilion, the Memorial Day band concert has been cancelled. Organizers hope that the renovations will be completed by July 4 so that the bandstand's summer concert series may begin. Concerts are usually held every Sunday, from 2-4 p.m., through Labor Day.

No damage reported after student lights small fire in Jacobs classroom

Hull police and school officials are investigating after a Jacobs Elementary School student allegedly lit a small fire in a classroom Tuesday afternoon.
Principal Christine Cappadona and Hull School Resource Officer Leanne Marshalsea were informed that, around 2 p.m., a fifth grade student had used a box of matches to light a stack of tissues on fire in the corner of one the school's technology classrooms.
Between periods, the student allegedly entered an empty classroom. When he was determined to be missing, a teacher went to investigate and saw the student exiting the classroom. Moments later, another teacher went into the classroom and discovered the fire. The teacher was able to grab the stack of tissues and put the fire out in the classroom sink.
The fire was very small and was contained to just the stack of tissues, according to a joint press statement issued by schools Superintendent Michael Devine and Police Chief John Dunn.
Because the blaze was so small, the fire alarms did not sound and school maintenance staff were able to quickly vent and clean the classroom.
Administrators retrieved the matches from the student, who has been removed from the school on an emergency basis. The Hull Police Department is investigating, but because of the student's age, criminal charges are not possible. Police are advising and offering resources to the school district.
No one was injured, and there was no damage to the building or any school materials.
"I want to commend teachers and staff at the Jacobs Elementary School for their swift actions that led to a quick resolution without injury or damage to school property," the superintendent said.

Supporters have a field day at Special Town Meeting

Putting the question before town meeting voters for a third time proved the charm tonight for supporters of a synthetic field at Hull High School.

At about 10:20 p.m., Moderator John Silva announced the results of a ballot vote on Question 1 of tonight's Special Town Meeting, which was the motion to authorize the bond needed to install a $2.1 million artificial playing surface.

Silva said that 1,204 ballots were cast; a two-thirds majority – 802 – was needed to approve.

Robust applause broke out as he announced 868 votes in favor, 336 opposed.

The meeting was then dissolved.

Voters packed the high school gym and auditorium. Three officials – Town Manager Philip Lemnios, schools Superintendent Michael Devine, and School Committee Chairman Stephanie Peters – spoke in favor of the proposal.

Resident Randall Gould rose to speak in opposition, then abruptly said he would vote in favor of the field before he yielded the floor.

A successful call for the question terminated discussion.

Town meeting did not begin work on the annual town meeting warrant tonight. The meeting resumes at the high school tomorrow night.

Hull police arrest three men on heroin trafficking charges

Chief John Dunn reports that the Hull Police Department arrested and charged three men with trafficking heroin following a traffic stop on Sunday, April 21.

Giovanni Cruz, 19, of Belmont, Tomas Martinez, 24, of Dorchester, and Raphy Veras, 19, of Quincy, were each charged with:

• Trafficking in heroin over 36 grams

• Possession to distribute a Class A drug (heroin)

• Possession of a Class A drug (heroin)

• Possession with intent to distribute a Class D drug (marijuana)

• Possession of a Class D drug (marijuana)

• Possession of a burglarious instrument

In addition, Cruz was charged with operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license, marked lanes violation, and malicious destruction of property under $1,200.

At approximately 10:45 p.m. Sunday, Hull police received a report of an erratic driver in the area of 50 George Washington Blvd.

Hull Police Officer Stephen Glavin located and allegedly observed the driver drift between lanes and almost cross into the opposite lane of traffic twice.

Glavin pulled over the driver near 45 Hull Shore Dr., the Nantasket Beach Resort. As Glavin approached the vehicle and spoke to the driver, later identified as Cruz, the officer noticed a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle.

During the course of the traffic stop, Glavin determined that Cruz was driving with a suspended license. The two passengers, Martinez and Veras, did not have valid driver's licenses and, as a result, the vehicle needed to be towed because it was blocking the driveway of a business.

While performing a routine inventory of the vehicle prior to the tow, officers located and seized approximately 41.8 grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl, 224 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, and an item used to open locked car doors known as a "slim jim."

Cruz was also found to have 47.8 grams of marijuana in his pockets, police said in a statement. 

The three men were placed under arrest and taken to the Hull Police Department to be booked.

While inside of his holding cell, Cruz allegedly purposefully clogged the toilet with a roll of toilet paper, causing the cell to flood with water, resulting in the malicious destruction of property charge.

The three men were expected to be arraigned Monday in Hingham District Court.

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April 2 forum will focus on Hull business development

A joint meeting of the Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce and Hull’s Economic Development Committee (EDC) will take place on Tuesday, April 2, at 7:30 a.m., at the Surf Lounge, Nantasket Beach Resort. The meeting is free and open to Chamber members, business owners, and all members of the public who are interested in participating. This will be the second collaborative meeting between the Chamber of Commerce and the EDC, and will serve to continue the discussion of topics pertaining to business development in Hull.  

Agenda items include the creation of a Hull Cultural District, updates on the ArtWalk project ,and other ongoing and new business development initiatives, vacant building bylaws update, and seasonal trolley service. Participation is encouraged from those in the business community who would like to be a part of this ongoing series of open forum discussions.  

A light breakfast will be provided.

Beachgrass planting will be Sunday

Hull Beachgrass Planting Day has been postponed until Sunday due to anticipated wind and cold on Saturday.
Volunteers will plant beachgrass along the Nantasket Beach dune from Phipps Street northward. from 9 a.,m. to noon. The Beach Management Committee hopes you will join your neighbors in this important annual event.

Volunteers should report to the registration area, located at the intersection of Beach Avenue and A Street, between 9 and 11 a.m.

If possible, please bring tools suitable for planting beachgrass culms, and containers (e.g., cloth bags, 5 gal buckets) to carry your bundle(s) of seedlings.

Thank you for your support. Sunday promises to be a great day for planting beachgrass!